Booking.com Referral Program: Earn $25 Travel Rewards Per Friend

Booking.com operates two distinct referral programs: one for travelers booking accommodations and another for property hosts listing on the platform. Understanding which program applies to you—and the specific qualification requirements for each—is essential for maximizing rewards. The customer referral program offers $25 rewards for both parties, while the property referral program provides commission-free bookings worth potentially hundreds of dollars.

Customer Referral Program: $25 for Travelers

Booking.com's customer-facing refer-a-friend program rewards both the referrer and the new customer with $25. However, this reward comes with important restrictions and qualification requirements that many participants overlook.

• Referral reward: $25 credit card refund for the advocate plus $25 discount for the friend
• Friend qualification: Must use the referral link to book accommodations (cannot be added retroactively)
• One-time use: Each friend can only use a referral link once, even if from different advocates
• Advocate cap: You can only earn the referral bonus 10 times maximum
• No paid promotion: You cannot use the referral link in paid advertising or sponsored content
• Booking requirements: Friend's reservation must meet minimum stay and price thresholds (varies by region)

For your referred friend's booking to be eligible for the reward, they have to use the referral link to book their accommodations. Referral codes cannot be applied retroactively to existing bookings.

— Booking.com Terms & Conditions

Property Host Referral Program

If you're a property owner or manager listed on Booking.com, the property referral program offers more substantial value. You can refer friends to list their properties and both parties save money on commissions—a reward potentially worth far more than $25 per referral depending on booking volume.

Both the referring property and the referred property can each receive a maximum of five commission-free bookings. New properties registering with a referral link pay no commission on their first five bookings within 90 days of listing. This can represent savings of 15-18% on each booking, quickly exceeding several hundred dollars in value for active properties.

Strategic Referral Sharing for Travelers

Given the 10-referral lifetime cap on customer rewards, focus your sharing efforts on high-probability conversions rather than broad, untargeted promotion. Ideal referral candidates include friends planning international trips (higher booking values increase perceived benefit), family members organizing group travel or family reunions, colleagues planning business trips who book accommodations personally, and destination wedding guests needing hotel blocks.

1. Share your referral link during natural travel conversations when friends mention upcoming trips
2. Create value by pairing your referral with travel planning assistance or destination recommendations
3. Time outreach for peak booking periods: January (post-holiday planning), March-April (summer vacation bookings), September (fall and winter travel)
4. Use direct messaging rather than public posting to ensure serious travel planners see your link
5. Explain that they must use the link BEFORE searching for properties to ensure tracking works properly
6. Follow up to answer questions about Booking.com's cancellation policies, loyalty program, or property selection

Property Host Referral Tactics

For property owners, referral opportunities exist within hospitality networks and real estate communities. Target fellow property owners at real estate investment meetups or landlord associations, vacation rental managers handling multiple properties, bed and breakfast owners in adjacent markets, and real estate agents whose clients own rental properties. The commission savings make this an easier sell than consumer rewards—you're offering concrete, immediate value measured in hundreds of dollars.

Avoiding Common Disqualification Issues

Booking.com actively monitors referral compliance and will void rewards for policy violations. Never create multiple accounts to self-refer using different email addresses or payment methods. Don't make bookings solely to qualify for referral bonuses then cancel before check-in. Avoid posting referral links on unauthorized deal websites or in paid search advertising. And critically, ensure your friend actually completes their stay—cancelled reservations or no-shows do not generate referral credits.

Tracking Referral Status

Log into your Booking.com account to view referral program status, including how many of your 10 allowable referrals you've completed, pending referrals awaiting qualification, and when rewards will post. Rewards typically appear as statement credits within 30-60 days after the friend completes their stay. If a friend reports using your link but you don't see credit, verify they completed the booking through your unique URL and their reservation met all qualification criteria.

To manage Booking.com referrals alongside other travel rewards programs, consider creating a centralized travel rewards hub on Codiroo. This allows you to share one comprehensive resource covering hotel booking rewards, airline referrals, credit card travel bonuses, and more—simplifying your strategy while maximizing earning potential across multiple programs.